Archive for September 2014

September 27, 2014 @ 10:27 pm

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Three comics from September 24, 2014. Plus Second Opinions, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Chase Magnett.

Show Notes:

This week's theme is parents and children: re-introductions. As we grow older, we usually lose that close parental bond, if we had it at all, as parents and children interact more and more within the context of their broader family and communities. Sometimes that shift happens prematurely, even violently. Sometimes it happens before one or both sides is ready to let go. So when we have a chance to sit down with mom or dad again, we have to rediscover who they are and what they mean to us. The characters in this week’s comics are cast adrift, physically separated from others and forced to re-introduce themselves as a family again. To address past misconceptions and miscommunications. And to decide if they’re going to work together or fall apart.

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from September 17, 2014. Plus Second Opinions, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Matt Baum.

Show Notes:

The theme this week? If music be the food of love, play on. For centuries, music has been a focus and an outlet for friends, fools and foes alike. It’s a shared passion that brings us together like few other things can. It’s a distraction from pain and an opportunity for greatness. Every musician dreams of hitting it big, becoming a star, becoming a god. We’re looking at two books this week where music and character intertwine. And where gods and mortals do, too.

Aaaaand then we recorded. And Aaron essentially vetoed the theme, as he is wont to do. So instead of talking about comics and music, we mostly just talk about how much he hates comics, and other fun things that are fun.

Two books from September 10, 2014. Plus, our brand new segment Second Opinions, featuring questions answered by a single listener each week. Starting us off, Jessica Boyd.

Show Notes:

The theme this week is (deep breath) nonverbal sidekicks and the monologuing women who love them. We’re looking at two comics with strong young female protagonists, both of whom we’ve discussed, but whose point of view, and commentary thereof, is an important part of the identity of the book. In both cases, that insight is tempered by our heroines’ relationships with their nonverbal companions, who serve to actually humanize the interactions with the rest of the characters. Seriously. This is going to be a good conversation. Actually about comics.

Amelia and Lemmy. And spoilers.

Kamala and Lockjaw. And yet another conversation about predictive gender roles.

Ibrahim drew The Pound: Ghoul’s Night out for IDW but you probably know him as the artist on High Crimes, digitally published by Monkeybrain Comics and out in hard cover next spring by Dark Horse Comics.

September 6, 2014 @ 7:19 am

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Three books from September 3, 2014.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is small town, big terror. There’s a special kind of monster - and justice - that inhabits a fictional insular community, whether it be in the Pacific Northwest, the deep South or inside the brain of a killer. Yeah, you read that right. This is comics, kids, where murder and mayhem in small town, U.S.A. can take on a whole new level. Serial bullies, serial monsters, serial killers. And don’t get us started on the daddy issues.

Be mindful of the internal time stamps this week. The conversation sort of evolved...or devolved, depending on your perspective, so at various points all three books are sort of loosely discussed. Remember, no reviews. Just analysis. And this episode, a very skewed one at that.

Not a lot of comics talk, but plenty about our own experiences with small towns. Let's just say we can both agree this setting is ripe for the story picking.

Nailbiter #5 11:40

Start with an intense (and ignorant?) debate about small towns vs. urban areas. Then at 24:45, our fearless hosts attempt to get back on track and chat about comics. It doesn't take.

At 26:50, Andrea prompts Aaron again about - you know, the comic - and then they move on. Don't worry, Nailbiter comes up in subsequent segments at 30:45, 35:32, 37:02 and 43:05.

Headspace #4 27:57

Let's call this segment 35% comic, 65% more arguing about small towns. And the human psyche.

Southern Bastards #4 38:45

And finally, a more evenly balanced discussion about faith, small towns and going back home again. Also comics. Ish.

Songs for the segments transitions are variations of the song "Homeward Bound" by the following artists: